Questions & Answers

Everything you need to know about Prelim, AI screening interviews, and how automated candidate screening works for recruiters and candidates.

About Prelim

What is Prelim?: Prelim is an AI-powered screening interview platform built for commission-based recruiters at staffing agencies. It automates the first-round candidate screening process so recruiters can focus on placing qualified candidates and closing deals.
Who is Prelim designed for?: Prelim is designed specifically for commission-based recruiters at staffing agencies. It is ideal for recruiters who spend significant time on phone screens and want to identify the best candidates faster without sacrificing quality.
How does Prelim work?: You paste a job posting or describe a role, and Prelim generates a tailored screening interview. You share the interview link with candidates, they complete it on their own time, and you receive scored results with clear recommendations on who to prioritize.
Is Prelim free to use?: Yes, Prelim offers a free tier that lets you get started at no cost. There is also a Pro plan available for teams that need unlimited interviews and advanced features.
What is the pricing for Prelim Pro?: Prelim Pro is a paid plan that gives you unlimited interviews and access to advanced features for your recruiting team. Visit the pricing section on the homepage for the latest details.
Who built Prelim?: Prelim is built by CMG Labs, a software studio based in Palo Alto, California. The team focuses on building tools that help people work smarter and more efficiently.
How do I contact Prelim support?: You can reach the Prelim team by emailing marcus@cmglabs.ai or by visiting the contact page at prelim.chat/contact. The team is responsive and happy to help with any questions.
Where can I access the Prelim app?: The Prelim app is available at app.prelim.chat. You can sign up for a free account and start creating screening interviews right away.

AI Screening Interviews

What is an AI screening interview?: An AI screening interview is an automated first-round interview where candidates answer role-specific questions generated by artificial intelligence. The AI then evaluates and scores responses, giving recruiters a clear picture of each candidate's qualifications before any human interaction.
How accurate are AI screening interviews?: AI screening interviews are designed to evaluate candidates against the specific requirements of a job posting. They provide consistent, unbiased scoring based on how well a candidate's responses match the role requirements. This helps recruiters make data-driven decisions rather than relying on gut feelings from brief phone calls.
How are AI screening interviews different from phone screens?: Traditional phone screens require a recruiter to spend 15-30 minutes per candidate, which limits how many people you can evaluate in a day. AI screening interviews run asynchronously, meaning candidates complete them on their own time, and recruiters review scored results instead of spending hours on calls.
Can AI screening interviews replace human recruiters?: No. AI screening interviews are designed to handle the repetitive first-round screening so that human recruiters can focus on higher-value activities like building relationships, negotiating offers, and closing placements. The AI handles qualification; the recruiter handles placement.
What types of questions does the AI generate?: The AI generates role-specific questions based on the job posting you provide. These can include questions about relevant experience, technical skills, situational scenarios, and role-specific knowledge. The questions are tailored to each position to ensure meaningful screening.
How does the AI score candidate responses?: The AI evaluates each candidate's responses against the requirements and qualifications specified in the job posting. It produces a score and clear recommendation so recruiters can quickly identify which candidates are worth pursuing and which are not a good fit.
Are AI screening interviews biased?: AI screening interviews evaluate candidates based on their responses to job-specific questions, which helps reduce many common biases found in traditional phone screens. Every candidate gets the same questions and is scored against the same criteria, creating a more consistent evaluation process.
Can I customize the screening interview questions?: Yes. While Prelim automatically generates questions from your job posting, you can review and customize the questions to match your specific screening needs. This gives you control over exactly what gets evaluated during the interview.

For Staffing Agencies

How does Prelim help commission-based recruiters?: Commission-based recruiters earn money by placing candidates, not by screening them. Prelim automates the screening step so recruiters can spend more time on activities that directly generate revenue, like submitting qualified candidates and closing placements.
How much time can recruiters save with Prelim?: Many recruiters spend 60-70% of their week on screening calls, and most of those candidates turn out to be unqualified. Prelim handles this screening automatically, potentially saving recruiters dozens of hours per week that can be redirected toward placing candidates.
Can Prelim handle high-volume hiring?: Yes. Because candidates complete interviews asynchronously, Prelim can screen hundreds of candidates simultaneously without any additional time investment from the recruiter. This makes it ideal for high-volume staffing roles where speed matters.
What is the ROI of using Prelim for a staffing agency?: The ROI comes from two areas: time savings and better placement rates. By quickly identifying the most qualified candidates, recruiters can submit better candidates faster, win more placements, and earn more commission in less time.
Does Prelim work for all types of staffing roles?: Prelim works for a wide range of roles across industries. Whether you are staffing for administrative, technical, healthcare, warehouse, or professional positions, the AI generates relevant screening questions based on the specific job requirements you provide.
Can I use Prelim with my existing ATS or recruiting tools?: Prelim is designed to work alongside your existing workflow. You share interview links with candidates through whatever channels you already use, whether that is email, text, or your ATS. No complex integration is required to get started.
How do I share screening interviews with candidates?: Prelim gives you a shareable link for each screening interview. You can send this link to candidates via email, text message, job board messaging, or any other communication channel you use. Candidates click the link and complete the interview at their convenience.
Can multiple recruiters on my team use Prelim?: Yes. Prelim supports team usage, and the Pro plan is designed for recruiting teams that need to run unlimited interviews across multiple recruiters and roles.

Technical

Do I need to install anything to use Prelim?: No. Prelim is a web-based platform that runs in your browser. There is nothing to install or configure. You can sign up and start creating screening interviews in minutes at app.prelim.chat.
Is my data secure on Prelim?: Yes. Prelim takes data security seriously and follows industry best practices for protecting candidate and recruiter data. For full details, you can review the privacy policy at prelim.chat/privacy.
What happens to candidate data after the interview?: Candidate interview responses and scores are stored securely and are accessible to the recruiter who created the screening interview. Prelim does not sell or share candidate data with third parties.
Does Prelim require any technical setup or API integration?: No. Prelim is designed to be used without any technical setup. You paste a job description, generate an interview, and share the link. There is no API integration, code, or IT involvement required.
What browsers does Prelim support?: Prelim works in all modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Both recruiters and candidates can access the platform from desktop or mobile devices.
Does Prelim offer interview templates?: Yes. Prelim provides pre-built interview templates for common roles and industries. You can use these templates as a starting point or create custom interviews from any job posting. Browse available templates at prelim.chat/templates.

For Candidates

What should I expect from a Prelim screening interview?: A Prelim screening interview is a short, conversational interview that you complete online at your own pace. You will be asked questions relevant to the role you applied for, and your responses will be evaluated to help the recruiter understand your qualifications.
How long does a Prelim screening interview take?: Most Prelim screening interviews take around 10-15 minutes to complete. The exact length depends on the number of questions and the depth of the role, but they are designed to be respectful of your time.
Can I complete a Prelim interview on my phone?: Yes. Prelim interviews are fully accessible from mobile devices. You can complete the interview from your phone, tablet, or computer using any modern web browser.
Do I need to create an account to take a Prelim interview?: No. Candidates do not need to create an account or download an app. You simply click the link provided by your recruiter and complete the interview directly in your browser.
What tips can help me do well in a Prelim screening interview?: Answer each question thoroughly and honestly, focusing on how your experience relates to the role. Be specific about your skills and accomplishments. Treat it like a real conversation with a recruiter and provide enough detail to demonstrate your qualifications.
Will a real person review my interview responses?: Yes. While the AI scores your responses to help the recruiter prioritize candidates, a real recruiter reviews the results and makes all final decisions. The AI assists the process but does not replace human judgment.